Dale K. Hathaway has been a faculty member, department chair, and recently selected as the Associate Dean for the Martin D. Walker School of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois since 1989.
He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boston University. Mathematically, he has a passion for finding and presenting “Birthday Problem” connections and, as a Christian, he loves finding ways to connect his profession with his faith.
Step into the world of a World War II radio operator as Dr. Dale Hathaway shares the biography of his father, TSgt Kenneth Hathaway. A moving collection of letters brings to life Ken’s transformation from a young, inexperienced recruit to a decorated Airman in the Army Air Corps. This narrative takes us through the grueling days of training to the harrowing mission when their bomber received heavy damage from enemy fire. Interspersed throughout is a touching story of romance between Ken and the young lady he desires to marry, adding a layer of intimacy and humanity to the narrative. Perhaps most inspiring is the unwavering faith of this remarkable man, who remains steadfast in his obedience to God. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by the “Greatest Generation”.
—Lt Col Brian A. Wilken, United States Air Force (Retired)
Sergeant Ken Hathaway was a humble, ordinary American who became a crack radio operator on a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II. Letters from a WWII Airman recounts Sergeant Hathaway’s story from his New England beginnings to his military draft, travels across the US for training, assignment in the European theater, and his harrowing, tragic final mission over Nazi Germany. A member of the Greatest Generation, Sergeant Hathaway’s life was marked by virtuous service and Christian faith. Relying on an array of primary source documents, Dr. Dale Hathaway tells his father’s story in beautifully clear, honest prose. Historians will appreciate the firsthand accounts of flight training and battle in a B-24 bomber; Christian believers will learn about how their forefathers in small churches across America cared for one another in time of national crisis, and all readers will find themselves caught up in the twists and turns of Ken and Katy’s long-distance wartime romance. Letters from a WWII Airman is an inspirational story of humility, courage, love, family, and faith.
—Dr. Stephen Lowe, vice president for Academic Affairs; professor of history, Olivet Nazarene University
Letters from a WWII Airman: How his faith sustained him, is the true story of one of those men from what we acknowledge as “the “Greatest Generation”. Like so many who experienced war, Ken Hathaway (1918-2001) was reluctant to talk about those experiences, but the letters and scrapbooks he left behind contained information that, when pieced together, provided a compelling story of:
- The experiences of training for and participating in aerial combat in World War II.
- An account of being interned in a neutral country.
- The importance of connections with family and friends.
- The significance of his Christian faith.
- The wartime romance that developed because of the military service.
Biography
Dale K. Hathaway has been a faculty member, department chair, and recently selected as the Associate Dean for the Martin D. Walker School of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois since 1989. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boston University. Mathematically, he has a passion for finding and presenting “Birthday Problem” connections and, as a Christian, he loves finding ways to connect his profession with his faith.
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